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Canadian National Leaders Spar During English-Language Election Debate
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by Rob Walker | October 3, 2008 at 09:19 am
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While the english-language debate leading up to the Canadian National Election didn't garner nearly as much interest as the American vice-presidential debates, there is still plenty of speculation and criticism going on.
Green party leader Elizabeth May showed her stripes as a real leader, Jack Layton thumped his chest but stayed on target and Harper withered scathing critiques with his trademark grin intact.
The televised debates, therefore, likely matter a lot less in this campaign than in any other. In fact, the debates are the least crucial factor determining the outcome of elections. The only exception came in the last election when out of sheer desperation, then-prime minister Paul Martin decided to make up new policy on the fly, vowing that he would scrap the notwithstanding clause from the constitution. It was then that his fate was sealed.
Thinking back on the English debate in the cold light of day, I can't figure that anything happened of consequence except for Elizabeth May taking full advantage of her opportunity to sell herself to voters as a party leader as competent as any of the others.
There are new numbers out showing the latest seat projections.
New G & M numbers producing a slight change mostly in Quebec. They are based upon polls from Nanos Oct.2,Strat-Coun Oct.1, Harris Decima Oct.2, Ekos Oct.2, Ipsos Sept.27, Angus Reid Sept.27.
President Mary Simon selected twelve questions that are important to Inuit and are current in our nation’s political dialogue. These questions have been sent to the five party leaders for comment before the upcoming election.The answers are finally in (with the Conservatives and Green’s sending their answers in yesterday).
Last night a Liberal campaign volunteer came by my house to give me a leaflet about my area's Liberal candidate, it's the first actual canvasing I've seen happen in my neighbourhood so far this election
Campaign Trail Map
Here's a map of the leaders as they travel across the country while they campaign:
The National Post will be tracking federal party leaders Stephen Harper, Stéphane Dion, Jack Layton, Gilles Duceppe and Elizabeth May as they crisscross Canada from coast to coast to coast. Check back often to get the latest on the 2008 Canadian federal election.
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (2)
at 10:48 on October 3rd, 2008
They may not have been of much consequence, but I must admit that I did laugh twice. Once when Duceppe, who can hardly be remembered as having a sense of humour, admitted that he was never going to be Prime Minister, and added that neither "are three of you, you just haven't admited it to yourselves yet." And harder still when Elizabeth May said that the Afghans need to learn how to utilize their poppy crop for medicinal purposes.
It may not be very exciting or glamorous, but if you watch closely there are jokes, snide remarks, and the occasional handshake snub; basically Canadian politics in a nutshell.
at 11:58 on October 3rd, 2008
Elizabeth May said, "the Afghans need to learn how to utilize their poppy crop for medicinal purposes." Can't say I disagree with Liz, what she probably doesn't know is that Canada's pharmaceutical industry made that deal with Coca-Cola years ago. What do ya'think Coca-Cola has been doing with the cocaine the law requires extracted from the coca leaves that are used to produce the soft drink??
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